Suggestion Box: Improving the Kings Experience

They had a section of tickets in the bleachers that they gave to a local High School drumline. In return, the drumline always showed up with drums and noisemakers and went nuts. It was great. I know in a closed environment, no one wants to be sitting next to a guy with a marching snare, but the idea was similar and can be adapted to fit ARCO. I love the idea.

There could be a 100-seat “contest” section in which groups or individuals compete for seats within this section by submitting short essays saying what they would do if they won the seats.

This was my idea, but you beat me to it. Jerk.

But I love this idea, especially with the right fans. Squad 6 is insane. The fans in that section come up with tons of crazy chants and funny songs. It’d be great to see at Arco. Exhibit G could come up with some more spoof songs and people could sing ’em at Arco.

It’d be nice if this area were near the visitor’s bench because I’m all for heckling

not sure if parents would buy into this in the states or not. was at some norwegian soccer games last year and each team has their section of diehard fans – chanting etc. all game long and it was great. but what i thought was a great idea was they had a separate section on the opposite end of the stadium for the jr. diehard fans. obviously the idea is to hook them young and try to keep them fans for life.

the adults would chant back and forth with them to keep them involved. after the game the team goes to each side and acknowledges the fans. not saying you’d need to copy that but just doing something that acknowledges the group – like slamson spending extra time in the kids section during the game – or throwing out more balls & tshirts to that section during the game.

This is along the lines of what some at StR nights have talked about – putting together the nights next year to coincide with a L*kers or Dubs game so that we could “Take ARCO Back!.” This is the same idea, nightly. I like this idea.

Actually it’s kind of obvious and it’s a bit of a shame that we don’t already have a place like this. For an example I’ll actually turn to college soccer. That’s right, not only a sport that isn’t all that popular in the US, but the college version of it.

I go to Cal Poly, which was not known as a big soccer school when I first arrived. A friend of mine organized a support group like this with a few of his friends and maybe ten to twenty other people. The intention was to go to every game and just be loud and obnoxious and show support for the team. Games all of a sudden became extremely fun to go to because it was practically a party. Attendance shot up to the thousands per game, which is pretty good for soccer. Even people who didn’t necessarily know that much about the game or even care for it that much would go to a game, have a good time, and come back for more at the next game. With the extra crowd support and a new coaching regime the team started playing much better and always left their heart out on the pitch because they were grateful to have fans to play in front of. At the same time, opposing teams weren’t used to it and reacted quite strongly to our taunts (the worst was a player who kicked a ball directly into our section). Now our soccer program is very competitive compared to the rest of the country and ranks in the top 10 in attendance. Several of our games against local rival UCSB have approached all time single game attendance records. Most importantly it’s turned soccer games here into a legitimate event, something you would plan your life around and has made a sport that some would consider to be dull into something fun, even for casual fans.

So basically we would need some sort of standing section, probably around the cheap seats so it doesn’t cut too much into revenue. Make the tickets cheap, but make it well known that this is the loud area where you’re shunned if you leave a game with any semblance of a voice left. Allow noisemakers and even give them away for free on some nights (bring back the cowbell) and discourage families with children from sitting nearby. Also shirts for group members would be nice as well.

This is the perfect way to send a message to the rest of the league and to our own casual fans as well that the Arco Thunder is back. Hopefully just like at Poly, when other fans start taking notice, they’ll be more interested in attending games. It snowballs, and it snowballs quickly.

Sorry Ziller, I’ll behave now

Grrr.

you would be surprised what people will do for even the chance at a free meal. Shoot, find two or three fat guys like myself, give each one a different colored hat so that fans can cheer for their favorite, then have them race shirtless up and down the court for a bacon double cheeseburger. I would do it.

I caught a glimpse of that show “Minute to Win It” last night. It was completely absurd. However, those stupid games would be great to do during breaks at a Kings game. They take a whole minute to do so there’s plenty of time to do them during full timeouts or between quarters. Plus, the people do them look ridiculous but you root them on anyway because you want them to win. It’s a cheap way to entertain the crowd and incorporate sponsors while bringing some variety.

It’s fun for a game or two, but honestly, for a whole season it gets sort of wearying to watch. (Of course I can rant for hours about how the Houston PA system works aggressively to destroy any genuine atmosphere or crowd response.)

The Rockets game prizes varied ridiculously – a free cell phone, a bag of burritos, greek food, a $300 gift certificate, OR a free trip for 2 to Shanghai/London/Amsterdam/Miami/Etc -this was a Continental Airlines game, and you had to hit an NBA 3 pter to go to Shanghai. Miami was a layup, literally, though.

with the idea of having personalized sounds for specific players when they hit a shot and when they enter back onto the court.

but it seems like the PA booth only has like 4 techno tracks that they play over and over. Sandstorm is great, but not 5 times a night every night. Also, the freaking song that they play when the dance team comes out on the floor and goes back “WOOOoooh, WOOeau!!!!”

There’s plenty of music with similar energy, I’d like to just have more variety in it.

You should come for StR night and meet up with folks before the game. That way no worries.

Our feelings on Grant are well-known.

And you really took it to another level. The Kings organization should be trying to build on fans feeling connected to the team and the kind of stuff on player development would really further that.

Sitting in the stands and watching or watching on TV doesn’t really do that. Nor does the events and Carl’s Jr. or elsewhere. Typically they are not something I have the time to attend.

I doubt this is possible, but let us buy tickets online without going through the “Ticketmaster Triple Fee” zone.

This might be difficult to pull off. But its definitely an idea to consider. A house band wouldn’t be a bad idea at all… and no, not one of the Maloof recording artists

Sac has a lively jazz scene. Tuesday jam session at Capitol Garage, for example.

the lakers have had a house band for decades. if the kings were to add one not sure it wouldn’t be laughed at as a copycat.

played at a kings game last year but they didnt set their sound to go through the PA so it didnt sound to great. Plus they were in the upper deck so it screwed up their acoustics and they only played at half time not throughout. It was a decent idea but very poorly executed. I think it was at a kings/thunder game.

it took a negative label, and flipped it into a positive trademark of the Kings, making opponents dread the sound.

Bring back the cowbells just to piss off Phil Jackson again.

Which includes a cowbell with tickets to the game.

It’s part of our identity as a team, and was such a huge component of the Arco intimidation factor. It’s an absolute MUST MUST MUST. It’d improve the fan experience and help the team win more games, so I don’t see why not.

but I’m pretty sure the NBA outlawed the cowbells.

…but the $1 hot dogs and $1 ice cream, especially for people who bring their kids to the game, is a great idea.

$1 hotdogs, sodas, peanuts, etc. on friday homegames or something like that. People love those games.

definitely – i sent this in a few times on the twitter feed and got no response. i would love to have wifi in the arena because the coverage is spotty on the iphone and i’m usually checking stats etc during the game.

along those same lines – it would be great if the kings would offer the inhouse feed of the tv over the wifi – so you could see replays etc. at your seat using an iphone, ipad, etc.

I’ve tried to Tweet stuff during the game and couldn’t. Would be a great idea.

I’d like it if the Kings players (and mgmt & coaches) would go to somewhere healthy to eat besides Carls Jr. and Round Table Pizza. Kids look up to these people and you’re trying to get them buy a friggin double jalapeno chili cheeseburger, fries and a coke. Seriously people.. I know is a big sponsor but switch it up a bit. Nugget is a good place to drive people. Anywhere but fast food would be a great start.

I’m a Jacksonville Jaguars fan…season ticket holders just yesterday got to have a telephone conference call with GM Gene Smith where the fans submitted questions and he answered them. It was pretty cool. Don’t see why Geoff Petrie can’t do a live Q&A session with the fans.

We asked, and they delivered. It remains to be seen which throwback jersey or alt they’re going to be using.

Bring back the black!!! Once you go black…

for more Jerry Reynolds. while I’m asking, more Kayte too.

This would organize people who can’t afford to be at the game and promote the team and community involvement. Put the game on all the tvs at Streets of London, or whatever locations you find, offer a $2 beer promotion during the game, and publicize the event. I would love this. I end up watching most games at home by myself, but I would much rather be at a bar with other kings fans wearing jerseys and drinking cheap beer. Plus it wouldn’t cost the team much money except to cover a little marketing.

This is entertainment.

I thought I would agree with you, but I recently went to a Giants game and enjoyed the stuff that had nothing to do with the game.

Loud obnoxious music is annoying. I think the music would have greater effect if it was played sporadically. The volume should be controlled and lowered or raised as the level of play on the floor unfolds. Whoever controls it should play it like a keyboard in an orchestra. If something is loud and annoying all the time, people are not going to like it and tune it out. If it varies to follow the flow of the game, it will dramatically add to the experience, just as music add to the suspense and drama in a movie.

Though I am also annoyed by a lot of the blaring music that plays at arenas, I realize there is a need for it. Unfortunately, most NBA arenas are not filled to brim with rabid fans, chanting, screaming, and singing from start to finish (a la college or Europe).

So unless the team makes a play worth clapping for, without the music and sound effects, you end up pretty much with… silence.

Now if the music could be less blaring and annoying….

….otherwise I’d find a different way to spend my STH money.

And I’m also asked by the NBA to take surveys on a regular basis. In arena, gametime entertainment has been the subject of NBA surveys several times.

Those who go to games on a regular basis and take these surveys, want the very in arena, gametime entertainment you don’t like.

I can stay home and watch the game on TV for free and not have all that “stuff” that you don’t like. But I go to the game for that very in area, gametime experience you don’t like. I guarantee you that if people complained about it, they would do away with it.

However, they complain that there isn’t enough of it.

I went to a River Cats game last week. Ok…. it’s baseball. But the in stadium gametime entertainment was negligible. I think they did a couple things down around home base a couple times.

Raley Field was less populated than Arco Arena. They aren’t entertaining. I’m not even sure if crossing home plate would have helped. But like I said…. it IS baseball. Which I personally find deathly dull.

The Kings sponsor some tournaments

and I think they’ve learned that this year. Appealing to their customers with less expensive products means they’ll sell more of said products. Lower prices with more sales breaks even with having higher prices with less sales. However, there’s a lot to be said from a PR standpoint about fans being happy to spend their money at a Kings game because of the value of the product. Doing this rewards the loyal fans who have stuck by the team and creates new loyalties with newer or returning fans.

i think the free thanksgiving meals were a classy thing to do. logistics of them were not the best especially the first time when folks were standing in line still when the game started – but it was a cool idea and well received.

This is exactly it. The team must recognize the value of each customer. Section, you’ve been a ticket holder for, what, 200 years now? And yet an issue like the food card comes up and no concession is made. The team cannot afford to drive away loyal fans. Many loyal fans are already pulled away by their financial situations, why alienate those who have held on?

But I got a couple of emails reminding me to use my card before the expiration date. Which included in bold letters what that expiration date was. AND my Service Executive asked me about it when we saw each other at a game…..

I purchased the 2 seat package over the phone and picked up my tickets at will call. When I asked about my Brockness Monster T, I was told that they had run out (even thou it was noon on game day) and that they would send it to me. A month went by and nothing so I called. After getting transferred to 3 people, I finally got a promotions person and explained. They said they would get back to me later in the day but nothing. Two or three days later, I received a package in the mail with an autographed Brockman shirt which I appreciated but the fact that I had to jump through hoops to get something I had paid for a month earlier is a sad statement in itself.

i want to watch the game….and my willpower isn’t that strong.

at least like 1 quarter of Brockman signing stuff

I have heard the players talk about learning a lot when they are injured by watching the team on the sideline and listening to the coaches talk the whole game. I think if you took them away from the team you are going to miss a valuable learning experience that they would not normally have.

It seems that most people like to cater to the more family fun cheesy stuff that we see at the Kings games. It seems like they use that time to try to get the casual families coming back, because for the actual sports enthusiasts, they will return just for the sports, not the half time show. I think having little kids play though would be pretty cool. But ya I agree, everything feels dated, (and I can’t be sure, but I think that “WOO WOO” song that plays everytime the dancers come out might be a league thing. I’ve heard it being played in the background a lot during broadcasts at other places, so I’m inclined to give the Kings the benefit of the doubt on that one, but as for the rest of the music…)

$5-$6 for a pint of beer? How do you expect them to make any money off that!? These guys run a business and they need that 600% profit margin to stay afloat!

Muff’s comments regarding the master of ceremonies got me thinking – let’s have more Scott Moak. Moak is the PA announcer, and anyone that has seen him emcee at various Kings events knows that he is easy going, knowledgeable, and he really looks like he enjoys what he is doing. Greater utilization of Moak (and the elimination of other sources of “entertainment”) would be a good thing.

Good points, especially about Arco trying to fake it. That’s one of the ways that the Kings organization doesn’t understand its market. They don’t need to focus so much energy on getting people into the game. They need to focus their energy into the arena. This team is young and dumb but they’re exciting. If you do stuff to get more of us to buy tickets and actually go to the game, we’ll bring the energy ourselves. We’re the same fans in the same area as 10 years ago. We desperately want something to be excited about, some commong thing among everyone in the area, something to boost the morale of the entire area. That thing could be the Kings. We want it to be the Kings. We just don’t want to spend a small fortune to enjoy a night out at the game. Do what it takes to get us into the arena. We’ll do the rest

As much as MSE keeps harkening us back to the Glory Days, we’re not there anymore. We have a brand new group of players with a completely different personality… The same could be said of the crowd… The crowd today is going to have a different dynamic than the one 10 years ago. Sure, there will be some of the same faces as before but the majority of the crowd has changed and so has their tastes. Cater to those new tastes and that new personality and you’ll be solid gold, baby (though hopefully not those dreadful jerseys).

On a related note.. We’re a much more tech-savvy group of people these days. Use that. The Kings organization has done a great job with Social Media so why stop it when the game starts.. Keep tweeting during the game with in-arena updates. Post some candid pictures or video during the game and behind the scenes and post them to Facebook & YouTube. Get some in-game comments from GG, JR or coaches just like the TV broadcast does.

you run the risk of pissing off the people that pay for the lower bowl tix though by doing this. let’s all be honest – everybody loves an empty seat next to them – more elbow room, less chance your are sitting next to a jackass.

you start doing this on a regular basis what is the incentive to buy the more expensive seats to begin with if they can get upgraded regularly?

when they started running the $10 for all upper bowl seats they did upgrade season ticket holders which was cool. we got moved down twice – once to the 5 or 6th row and the second time we got put in the 1st row – about 5 ft from the bench. could have done that a lot more.

that’s a great idea. coworker got some front-row seats & free valet to a game a couple years ago and it was awesome to be able to drive up to the door, drop the car off and be in the building in 10 seconds. and with it being an LA crowd – there was no line to pick the car up at the end of the game because most folks had left already. not something i’d use all the time but it would be nice to have the option – maybe do a discount on the valet for STHs.

Maybe it’s just me, but I recall Arco always being horrible to get out of after a game. It’s a pretty vivid childhood memory, hanging out in the parking lot waiting for traffic to get out. When I was there in March, the cops still funneled everyone in one direction, even if you need to go the other way to get home.

The more tickets you buy the bigger the discount. If I buy 2 tickets to 7 games, couldn’t I get a 1/3 of the discount that the STH’s get for their 21 game package. They give the STH’s a discount, but I can’t make it to 20 games. So, I end up buying tickets from friends who have Season tickets and don’t want to go to some games, so I to get their discounted price. Some people don’t have that option, and being able to get discounts based on the number of games you can afford seens like a great idea.

If the parking is too costly, I can alway car pool and split the costs. If concessions are too costly, I can alway abstain. But, if the cost of going to games is too much, I’m not going to buy tickets.

Priceline, and Hotels.com have created an entire industry on selling unsold space. This model must have some use when it comes to selling tickets. Later in the season, when seats aren’t selling, offer the STH price for the seats. Or, the day of the game, offer the lowest price that STH pay for the same seats.

Nice idea.

Fill every third thunderstick with concrete prior to dropping them from the rafters – now that’s entertainment!

Section214 has season tickets… and he’s well over 18

Awful. Skateboarder night was an awful attempt at a tie-in night as well. How many people like both basketball and skateboarding? I bet it’s a pretty small number.

He was right, but it was still kinda stupid. I understand wanting to do some tie-ins, but some of them are lame. If you want to entertain the crowd during breaks or during halftime, get a t-shirt gun

Gives people who can’t scream a way to make noise.

Simple math…$30 × 3000 = $90,000, but $20 × 5000 = $100,000

You are showing that there is a $10,000 increase in gross income. There are a three things that you fail to take into consideration with the “simple math” example:

• First, let’s say that the merchandise (hot dogs, beer, ice cream, etc.) that the consumer purchases for $30.00 actually costs the franchise $10.00. In your formula: $30 × 3000 = $90,000, you have to subtract the cost of the goods sold: $10 × 3000 = $30,000. After all, they do not get these goods for free. They do have to pay merchants who supply them. $90,000 (gross receipts) – $30,000 (cost of goods) = $60,000 (before salaries).

In your formula for the lower prices: $20 × 5000 = $100,000, again you have to subtract the cost of the goods sold: $10 × 5000 = $50,000. $100,000 (receipts) – $50,000 (cost of goods) = $50,000 (before salaries) . So after the price reduction, they are actually making $10,000 less ($50,000 versus $60,000)

• The second factor you need to consider is that you are now supplying 2000 more people who purchase the product. People are already complaining about wait in lines. In order to process them more quickly, they may have to hire more people to wait on those in line. This is going to cut into the profit margin even more, with more salaries. So, you would have to subtract even more from the gross receipts for the group of 5000 people.

• The third factor to consider is that since there is limited space in Arco Arena, you would expect the lines and wait time to be even longer serving 2000 more people. A lot of people might decide that it simply is not worth their time to wait in time this long. Hence the lower prices might not attract as many people as you might predict, given the longer wait time.

I don’t know how management determines the price of their goods. It probably has been some combination of supply and demand. They balance out how much product they can sell in a limited time period, including what people are willing to pay. If they lower prices, then the lines are longer and people complain about that. Your idea is fine in concept: Lower the prices. But the solution for the franchise to realize profits and satisfy the consumer may not be so simple.